We were commissioned by the Mabey Group to develop a masterplan for the former Mabey Bridge works on the edge of Chepstow Town Centre. Within the Monmouthshire local development plan, the site has been allocated for a range of uses including residential and employment. As part of a multidisciplinary consultant team, we created a masterplan which builds on the unique opportunities of this key riverside site.
The site had significant ecological constraints and opportunities as it is adjacent to the River Wye Special Area of Conservation. We worked with biodiversity consultants to create a masterplan which positively responded to this context, integrating natural wildlife and biodiversity corridors along the river's edge. The increased riverfront access will benefit the community, and we included a riverside footpath and cycle link in our design which is anticipated to become the new route for the Wales Coast Path.
Following public and stakeholder consultation, including local authority officers, an outline planning application was submitted for the development. This received favourable responses and permission was approved. The site is now being developed out by a national house builder, broadly in accordance with our original masterplan. The regenerated site has created a new neighbourhood for Chepstow and opened up river frontage for public access, recreation and active travel.
